- Acid phosphatase, also known as prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP), is an enzyme found primarily in the prostate gland, with high concentrations found in the seminal fluid.
- It is found in smaller concentrations in the kidneys, liver, spleen, bone marrow, erythrocytes, and platelets.
- Acid phosphatase is used to diagnose advanced metastatic cancer of the prostate and to monitor the patient’s response to therapy.
- for prostate cancer. In the past, this test has been considered a tumor marker for prostatic cancer. However, with the advent of the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test, monitoring of the acid phosphatase is decreasing in popularity.
- An additional use of acid phosphatase testing is testing for its presence in vaginal secretions during the investigation of cases of alleged rape.
